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The Citadel Rallies to Top Elon 6-3 in Extra Innings
Game 8: #1 The Citadel 6, #4 Elon 3
Box Score
Photo Slideshow
Postgame Quotes
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The top-seeded Citadel Bulldogs rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the top of the ninth and scored three runs in the top of the 10th to claim a 6-3 victory over No. 4 seed Elon in the second round of the 2010 Bennett Hofford Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Carolina Ford Dealers.
The Citadel (40-20) earned a day off with its victory and will return to action Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. against the winner of Friday's matchup between Elon and Samford.
Drew Mahaffey (3-3) picked up the win for the Bulldogs. He allowed no hits and no runs while striking out one in 1.2 innings of work. Thomas Girdwood (3-2) suffered the loss for the Phoenix.
First baseman Justin Mackert led the Bulldogs, going 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs and one run scored. Catcher Grant Richards finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Designated hitter Ben Scott went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Phoenix. Outfielder Harry Austin registered two hits in five appearances at the plate.
In the top of the first outfielder Matt Simonelli scored on a Mackert single up the middle to give The Citadel a 1-0 advantage.
Elon (37-21) evened it up in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Neal Pritchard hit his first career triple and plated outfielder Henry Austin.
The Phoenix took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth as third baseman Scott Riddle homered down the left field line.
Girdwood entered with runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth, but was able to induce a fly ball to right field off the bat of Brad Felder which ended the threat.
Simonelli tied the score at 2-2 it for the Bulldogs in the top of the ninth as he scored on a single by Mackert. Catcher Grant Richards singled to left field, and Mackert gave The Citadel a 3-2 lead after colliding with the catcher but reaching home plate.
Elon tied the game at three in the bottom of the ninth. Designated hitter Ben Scott singled to the shortstop and scored pinch runner David Wood. Outfielder Justin Hilt popped up to the second baseman to end the inning and leave Scott on base.
The Citadel scored three runs in the top of the 10th to take a 6-3 lead. Altman reached base on a fielder's choice. Orvin advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. Outfielder William Ladd also crossed the plate on the miscue. Matt Reifsnider flied out to left field scoring Simonelli.
Austin led off for Elon with a fly out to right field and outfielder Niko Fraser struck out. Grant McCoury was walked, and Pritchard lined out to first base ending the inning.
The Phoenix committed six errors to the Bulldogs' zero. The Citadel left 16 runners on base while Elon stranded seven.